An Inside Look at How a Book Deal Really Works
with
Dierdre Wolownick & Jennifer Chen Tran
Author (Dierdre) & Bradford Literary Agency (Jen)
First Friday Network Meeting, November 2, 2018
9-11 AM Coco’s, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights
Bring Market Leads & Marketing Tips
Member Dierdre Wolownick met and pitched a book concept to an agent she met at a California Writers Club meeting a few years ago. That agent was Jen Chen Tran. Now Dierdre’s book is about to come out. On November 2, Dierdre and Jen will discuss their journey together from pitch to book deal to manuscript preparation to promo – and steps in between.
Jennifer Chen Tran is an agent at Bradford Literary, joining in September 2017. She represents both fiction and non-fiction. Originally from New York, Jennifer is a lifelong reader and experienced member of the publishing industry. Prior to joining Bradford Literary, she was an Associate Agent at Fuse Literary and served as Counsel at The New Press. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Northeastern School of Law in Boston, MA, and a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis.
Jennifer understands the importance of negotiation in securing rights on behalf of her authors. She counsels her clients on how to expand their platforms, improve on craft, and works collaboratively with her clients throughout the editorial and publication process. Her ultimate goal is to work in concert with authors to shape books that will have a positive social impact on the world—books that also inform and entertain. Jennifer has presented at numerous conferences, including the San Francisco Writers Conference.
Dierdre Wolownick grew up in New York City and has lived and worked in many parts of the world. A teacher since 1971 (now retired), she’s taught five foreign languages on three continents. Her writing has appeared in books, magazines and journals world-wide, and has won awards. In 1993 she created an independent publishing company which produced several award-winners and international sellers. A musician all her life, Dierdre founded and conducted the West Sacramento Community Orchestra, and has played in orchestras in New York and California, either as principal (flute) or as solo or duet performer (piano). At the age of 55, Dierdre began long-distance running (marathons and half-marathons), and at 58, she began rock climbing. In 2017, at age 66, she became the oldest woman to climb Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan. She continues to be a motivational speaker and a performing musician. Her latest book, the inspirational memoir The Sharp End of Life; a Mother’s Story, will be released by Mountaineers Books in May 2019. Check out Dierdre at http://dierdrew.us, https://www.facebook.com/DierdreWolownick/, and (Instagram): @DierdreWolownick.
The California Writers Club–Sacramento Branch Networking Meeting is held the first Friday of every month at Coco’s Restaurant, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights, at the corner of Madison and Sunrise, starting at 9 a.m. Meetings are free. Attendees pay for their own breakfast.
Questions? Ask via our Contact page.